Implantation Tool Tissue Swelling Gastric Wall Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantation tools face challenges in penetrating the gastric mucosa and implanting devices in difficult-to-reach organs without surgical intervention, particularly in cases of redundant gastric mucosa, and are not effective for organs beyond the stomach.

Innovation Solution

An implantation tool featuring an axially hollow needle connected to a supply conduit for creating tissue swelling, with a longitudinal containment body and a pulling element to draw the device into the swelling site, allowing for non-surgical implantation in the gastric wall or other hollow organs, using a tapered, blunt front end for penetration and a flexible pulling mechanism for device insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pushing system is used to implant the device, then the device can be inserted into the implant site, but the tool cannot penetrate redundant gastric mucosa

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice insertion capabilityVSAvoidpenetration capability in redundant gastric mucosa
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pushing the device forward through the mucosa, the invention inverts the approach by retracting the needle backward to draw the device into the implant site. The needle is advanced through the redundant mucosa, then retracted to pull the device through the tissue, overcoming the limitation of pushing systems that cannot penetrate redundant gastric mucosa.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a pulling element as an intermediary mechanism between the needle and the device. This pulling element engages with the device and transmits the retraction force from the needle to the device, enabling reliable device insertion even in difficult anatomical conditions where direct pushing fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgical intervention under general anaesthesia is used, then the device can be implanted, but hospitalisation and associated consequences are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice implantation capabilityVSAvoidsurgical intervention requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces complex surgical mechanical systems with a simplified percutaneous needle-based system. Instead of requiring surgical incisions, general anaesthesia, and hospitalization, the device is implanted through a needle puncture that can be performed in an outpatient setting, significantly reducing the complexity of the implantation procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the needle is completely retracted into the containment body, then tissue damage is minimized, but the pulling element cannot be engaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue damageVSAvoidpulling element engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is designed with dynamic retraction capability, allowing it to move between extended and retracted positions relative to the containment body. When the needle is partially retracted, it engages the pulling element; when fully retracted, it minimizes tissue damage. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between engagement capability and tissue protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retraction process is segmented into distinct stages: initial retraction to engage the pulling element, intermediate retraction to draw the device, and final retraction to minimize tissue damage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both pulling element engagement and tissue protection at different phases of the implantation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the front end of the containment body is sharp for penetration, then tissue entry is facilitated, but the risk of cutting or tearing tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue penetration easeVSAvoidtissue cutting or tearing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The containment body exhibits local quality differentiation: the very tip is tapered to facilitate initial tissue penetration, while the main body and front end remain blunt and non-cutting. This localized sharpness at the tip provides penetration ease without the harmful effects of cutting or tearing along the length of the containment body during device retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables successful implantation of devices in the gastric wall and other organs by creating a tissue swelling for device insertion, facilitating penetration and minimizing tissue damage, and can be used standalone or with endoscopic instruments for various implantation sites.

Implementation Method 1

an axially hollow needle connected to a supply conduit for a fluid injectable from said needle for the creation of a tissue swelling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid injection:

Data Source

PatentEP3413818B1An implantation tool for implanting a totally implantable device in the body of a human or animal
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 MEDAUTONOMIC SRL
  • EP3413818B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~4
  • EP3413818B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~5
  • EP3413818B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~6

AI summary

An implantation tool (2) for implanting a totally implantable device (1) in the body of a human or animal, comprising an axially hollow needle (13) connected to a supply conduit (16) for a fluid injectable from said needle (13) for the creation of a tissue swelling (4), into which said device (1) is introducible, a longitudinal containment body (6) having inside it an axial cavity along which the needle (13) is slidingly guided, and a pulling element (11) disengageably engaged to said containment body (6) for drawing and releasing said device (1) in said tissue swelling (4).